10.—(1) Subject to subsection (2) and sections 11 to 13, the minimum period of maternity leave shall commence on such day as the employee selects, being not later than four weeks before the end of the expected week of confinement, and shall end on such day as she selects, being not earlier than four weeks after the end of the expected week of confinement.

(2) Where an employee is employed under a contract for a fixed term and that term expires before the day which, apart from this subsection, would be the last day of her maternity leave, then—

( a ) notwithstanding any other provision in this Part, the last day of her maternity leave shall be the day on which the term expires; and

( b ) nothing in this Part shall affect the termination of the employee's contract of employment on that day.